Increasing the effectiveness of EDM operations does not come solely with technological improvements in the EDM sinker. This is one of many aspects needing to be considered when working to optimize EDM performance and increase productivity. Other areas of consideration include the type of dielectric fluid, tooling and electrode material used in the EDM applications. [...]
Speed, precision and stability are the key attributes of a mold machine. With the increased accuracy demanded by sophisticated molded assemblies, particularly in the automotive supplier industry, mold shaping machine tools are breaking new ground in precision, speed and multi-axis cutting. […]
In the injection molding world, everybody has an opinion about how molds should be gated – how many should be used; where should they be located; and, what size and shape should they be? Much of what is actually implemented into mold designs comes from experience, whether it is from the moldmaker, molder or material [...]
Consider machine tool capability, intended milling techniques, programming, workholding and toolholding during your cutting tool selection process. […]
More than ever moldmakers are pressed to push the envelope on what is feasible and reasonable when it comes to accurately creating complex profiles. Companies today are heavily vested in each new product they bring to market. And good is not good enough. Manufacturing specs are often riddled with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerances) [...]
We all know that simulation technology delivers benefits but, as with most technology, we don’t typically take full advantage of it. Simulation has a lot to offer to mold manufacturing. It’s a matter of recognizing the problems that it can help solve. […]
Every mold manufacturer is searching for ways to increase productivity, and sometimes that means examining your current processes and changing the way you work. Despite what many think about the dreaded “change” word, if change is implemented properly it can mean less work, not more. An area in which you can experience dramatic results with [...]
Planned workholding, in its simplest form, is planning in advance how the workholding will be accomplished prior to the job getting to the machine. In the more complex form, all workholding for each machine is planned at the design stage with documentation that will provide the plan for the workholding at each operation. Planned workholding [...]
High quality plastics components are becoming an increasingly important part of the perceived quality of products. An important part of this high quality perception is a flawless and often high gloss surface finish. Traditional methods such as surface coatings and other secondary operations are often expensive and impractical for high-production volumes. In many cases, the [...]
Job scheduling plays a big role in our on-time delivery performance and leadtime, which determines our competitive position within our industry. This is particularly true as competition has gotten more fierce in recent years. Only the best shops have survived. And those shops have very good quality and lead the pack in expertise. This means [...]